Urgent - automation problem, or bug? Please help

Urgent - automation problem, or bug? Please help 

I'm on 3.4 Pan Law is at 0db Here's the scenario: I have a folder track nested 3 deep that I'm trying to automate a volume envelope on. It looks like this, folder/structure-wise: Guitars>Jeff Guitars>Jeff Rhythm Guitars. Inside the "Jeff Rhythm Guitars" folder track, there are 2 mono audio tracks. I'm trying to automate the "Jeff Rhythm Guitars" folder down 2db during a guitar solo, so all of my next references are to that particular folder track. Here's what's happening: I have the time selection set around the solo. The "Jeff Rhythm Guitars" folder's fader is at -1.83db. I right-click the envelope button, and choose "volume" to display the volume envelope. 2 different problems occur at this point, depending on playback state: -If the project is playing back, it instantly sets my fader to 0db. And I DO NOT mean just in the trim/read mode, it actually resets it, even in Read mode, or with automation bypassed or deleted. -If the project is not playing back: This is the 1st "bug" I found. Keep in mind I have the time selection "around" the guitar solo. I'm in trim/read mode. I drag the trim fader down, so that I get 2 new (square) automation points at the beginning and end of the solo (remember, I'm trying to bring the rhythm guitars down 2db during the solo). Works great. Except one thing - the "Jeff Rhythm Guitars" folder's volume is AUDIBLY lower, EVEN BEFORE AND AFTER THE AUTOMATION POINTS. In other words, if I flip to read mode, the fader still reads -1.83db before the solo, as it should, and drops 2db during my automation, as it should. But if I clip the bypass on the automation lane, the track get audibly louder (by about 2db, guessing by ear?) I believe this is a massive bug. I am on a client's time. Anyone have any ideas? Though I mostly LOVE Reaper, it's shit like this that makes me wanna quit using it. I leave it in the default "trim/read" mode.

I feel for you and wish I could help. Sorry I don't reaqlly have a clue what to tell you. Personally i stay away from Reapers folders just because of things like this. If I need a summing buss I craeate a summing buss and thats what it does, nothing more. Now that's probably not your problem but on the other hand? Hope it works out. Tod

Update: I found a setting under Options>Preferences>Editing Behavior>Envelopes that says "When adding volume/pan envelopes, apply trim to envelope and reset trim". Something is WRONG here. Basic point: turning an envelope on should NOT change the volume level of my track. Automation in Reaper is confusing, and needs to be simplified and clarified.